Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has challenged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to prove his claim that he collected ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu.
Makinde issued the challenge through his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, who described the allegation as false and irresponsible.
According to the Oyo State Government, Fayose made the claim without evidence and should publicly substantiate it.
Background to the Ibadan Explosion
In January 2024, a powerful explosion rocked parts of Ibadan, killing five people and injuring at least 77 others. The blast also destroyed about 55 houses in the affected area.
Following the incident, Governor Makinde visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He presented an official report on the disaster and sought federal support for victims.
However, Fayose later alleged during a TVC interview that the Presidency released ₦50bn to Makinde to manage the aftermath of the explosion.
Fayose’s Claim Sparks Reaction
The allegation gained more attention after Fayose’s former aide, Lere Olayinka, repeated it on Facebook. He claimed that although ₦50bn was released, only ₦4.5bn reached victims.
Reacting, Olarenwaju dismissed the statements as baseless. He said Fayose and his allies should stop making unverified claims.
“If Fayose has proof that ₦50bn was given, he should present it,” Olarenwaju said.
Oyo Govt Insists on Transparency
The Oyo State Government maintained that it handled the explosion response transparently. Officials said all interventions focused on supporting victims and rebuilding affected communities.
They urged the public to ignore what they described as politically motivated distractions.
